The latest ABS Retail Trade figures show that retail sales increased 0.7% in July, seasonally adjusted, compared with an increase of 0.4% the previous month.

Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (5.3%) recorded the largest seasonally adjusted increase in July followed by Other retailing (1.4%), Food retailing (0.4%) and Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.2%). Sales in Household goods retailing (-1.7%) decreased in July after a strong result in June and Department stores (-0.7%) also recorded a decrease in sales.

Victoria (1.7%), Queensland (1.5%) and New South Wales (0.6%) recorded the largest seasonally adjusted increases in July, followed by South Australia (0.3%) and the Northern Territory (0.2%). Sales in Western Australia (-1.8%), the Australian Capital Territory (-0.7%) and Tasmania (-0.3%) decreased in July.

Trend turnover increased 0.4% in July 2010. This follows a 0.4% increase in both June 2010 and May 2010. In the twelve months to July 2010 trend turnover increased 3.8%

Further information is available in Retail Trade, Australia (cat no. 8501.0)